How to treat an infrequently used car

[livewire08]

Hi all,

Use my car mostly at the weekend as I don't need it for work. Therefore it may go 5 days af a time without being used. If it hasn't been started for a few days I've been going out and start the engine for a few minutes in an attempt to put some charge in the battery and get the juices flowing to lubricate the engine. My question is whether this is a valid exercise or am I wasting my time?

As far as the battery goes I've read conflicting articles. One suggests idling the engine is enough to put in some charge whereas another said that starting the engine draws so much power that you actually drain the engine if only idling as it doesn't generate enough power at low revs to make up for the initial loss during ignition.

Any thoughts on if there's any benefit to the engine idling vs zip?

Thanks for the advice

[Wacky Racer]

If the battery is in good condition I would leave it, five days is nothing providing the car gets a decent run at weekends, and the alternator is in good working order.

Don't worry about it.

[Evoluzione]

livewire08 said:

am I wasting my time?

Pretty much so yes
Just get in it and drive it.

[mph1977]

if you are concerned aobut the battery get a conditioner / shoreline setup

[PeterBurgess]

If you are concerned about battery charge why not install a solar trickle charger if you can, otherwise trickle charge the battery occasionally.
My main concern, to be honest, would be the quality of the oil in the sump. With lots of short runs where the engine achieves nothing like full temp(not just water temp on the gauge)the oil can, and does, become diluted with water and becomes acidic. Any components under pressure eg piston rings to bore and cam followers to lobes tend to be damaged by the acid build up, this tends to show as a line of black dots where the rings have been stationary or on the cam followers or cam lobes. A shame to see engines ruined in this manner. We tend to tell folk laying up their car for winter to change the oil and filter, get the oil pressure up on the starter motor, squirt some oil down the bores and spin over again, then leave well alone until a sunny spring day. This ensures the engine is protected with no acid build up. A remote water heater is sometimes employed to keep the engine snug and damp free.
Peter

[Sardonicus]

Evoluzione said:

Pretty much so yes
Just get in it and drive it.

what he said ^

[livewire08]

Thanks all, seems like I can just kick back and relax then. Although I think a regular oil change on a car that's not used that often sounds like good practice. That'll be another new experience for me..

[steveo3002]

you're making it worse starting it for a few mins , it can sit for a couple of weeks no problem

reason is after running for a few mins the oil wont be full temp so wont burn off any condensation , and same with the exhaust

[Evoluzione]

steveo3002 said:

you're making it worse starting it for a few mins , it can sit for a couple of weeks no problem

reason is after running for a few mins the oil wont be full temp so wont burn off any condensation , and same with the exhaust

Precisely. When you take it out at the weekend try to give it a good run at normal operating temps.

[CarsOrBikes]

I have a few like this, and don't start them without using them in general, I rotate the charger on all of them, but do always leave them running for several minutes to allow some warmth into them, and on the road all is respectful until around 30 miles covered where the oil will then be at it's full normal temp, and brakes cleaner from some local use prior to needing to rely on them.

[Convert]

I don't use the RR very often, so it's on a 6W solar charger. Being a P38 I've also modified the RF receiver so it doesn't wake every 2 minutes.

Fired her up yesterday after 3 weeks. First turn of key.

Seeing as you're using it at weekends, I wouldn't worry.